Texans brought back cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. this offseason, five years after drafting him in 2019.
Even before fully re-acclimating to the team, Johnson Jr. is already trying to lure former teammates to Houston. Our own Jayson Braddock suggested the Texans trade for Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore this offseason before Johnson Jr. put on his recruiting cap and tag Lattimore in an Instagram post with the caption, "run it back.
Lattimore later liked a post that also mentioned the theoretical trade to Houston, although there have not been any reports of interest by either the Texans or the Saints in a trade.
Why the Saints might trade Lattimore
Multiple NFL reports have indicated this trade makes sense for the Saints. Braddock offered his thoughts, and Saints insider Nick Underhill wrote about a hypothetical trade in January. Bleacher Report's Alex Kay, whose story both Johnson and Lattimore interacted with on social media, argued that the Saints could use the trade to free up space (they will be around $75 million over the cap next season).
The recent addition of rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry strengthens their secondary, which already includes Paulson Adebo and Shemar Jean-Charles.
Why the Texans might trade for Lattimore
Despite missing 17 games the past two years due to injuries, Lattimore is a proven elite cornerback when healthy. He's still just 27 years old and won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 to go along with four Pro Bowls.
The Texans have made significant investments in the cornerback position this offseason. They signed Desmond King, Myles Bryant, and Johnson Jr. (all projected to play nickel back or slot), drafted Kamari Lassiter (who can play both inside and outside), and brought in Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson (former 2020 first-round picks). Additionally, they have Derek Stingley Jr. locked in at the top cornerback spot.
Despite the depth, the chance to acquire a player of Lattimore's caliber is enticing. Johnson Jr.'s social media activity, sharing a Bleacher Report post about the trade rumors, hints at Lattimore's desire for a reunion as well.
However, the most compelling reason for the Texans to consider this trade lies in their secondary's struggles against deep passes this past season. While the added depth is promising, none of those players inspire the same immediate confidence in shutting down the opposing team's top receivers as Lattimore would. His presence could be the key to solidifying the Texans' secondary and turning them into a true defensive force.
Why a trade could happen
Texans general manager, Nick Caserio has shown a willingness to make bold moves to improve the team. This past year, he traded up to pick No. 3 to draft Will Anderson Jr. This year, he made a complex trade sequence with Minnesota to acquire an extra second-round pick that was later used to obtain Stefon Diggs. He also traded for running back Joe Mixon in free agency, traded away Maliek Collins and recently traded for Ben Skowronek. Caserio's active approach suggests he wouldn't shy away from a deal for Lattimore if it strengthens the Texans' championship aspirations.
The Texans also have the salary cap to absorb Lattimore's contract in 2024. He has a cap hit of around $14 million compared to the Texans' $23 million in cap room. The bigger issue becomes what happens in 2025 when Lattimore's cap hit balloons to more than $31 million.
Why a trade might not happen
There is no indication from either side that Lattimore is on the block or that the Texans are interested. This is all speculation and social media conjecture at this point. It's also hard to imagine what the Saints would want in return for a player of Lattimore's caliber and if Caserio would even want to send over draft capital in a potential move. The Texans already traded away their second second-round for 2025, leaving Caserio with limited options unless he coveted Lattimore that badly to give up another Day 2 pick.
